Governor Urges Congress to Confront AI Risk
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today urged U.S. congressional leadership to take immediate action to confront the unprecedented risks posed by the rapid development of artificial intelligence — and pledged to continue working with state partners to address AI concerns in the absence of federal regulation.
In a new letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Governor Spanberger warned of the significant negative impacts on data privacy, employment, and large-scale resource consumption without new federal “guardrails that achieve meaningful AI accountability.”
“The federal government needs to play a much larger role in regulating this emerging technology to ensure its safe development and the protection of people and their livelihoods,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “The potential impacts of AI are too great to leave the regulation of this technology solely in the hands of private entities, especially when the CEOs of those same companies are also sounding the alarm on the significant risks presented by uncoordinated regulation.”
Governor Spanberger continued, “While the federal government must act in creating the guardrails that achieve meaningful AI accountability, in the absence of federal action, states are leading within their more limited areas of jurisdiction. For example, I just announced the most comprehensive and aggressive data center accountability effort in the country. In parallel with the framework, I established a rapid response AI Task Force that will address the unprecedented risks of unrestricted AI development, while steering the new technology to work in service of Virginians.”
Last week, Governor Spanberger unveiled her Data Center Accountability Framework — the most comprehensive and aggressive data center accountability effort in the country. The Framework includes Virginia’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force — established by Executive Order 22 — which focuses on addressing dangers posed by the rapid development of artificial intelligence, including workforce displacement, data privacy, and cybersecurity.
Read below for Governor Abigail Spanberger’s full letter:
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Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Jeffries, and Minority Leader Schumer:
I write to express deep concern regarding the unprecedented risks that artificial intelligence (“AI”) poses to the American people. The federal government has a responsibility to address the negative repercussions of AI on our economy and society, including the exceptional risks related to data privacy, workforce impacts, and large-scale resource consumption. The potential impacts of AI are too great to leave the regulation of this technology solely in the hands of private entities, especially when the CEOs of those same companies are also sounding the alarm on the significant risks presented by uncoordinated regulation. Our country is at a turning point. The federal government needs to play a much larger role in regulating this emerging technology to ensure its safe development and the protection of people and their livelihoods.
While the federal government must act in creating the guardrails that achieve meaningful AI accountability, in the absence of federal action, states are leading within their more limited areas of jurisdiction. For example, I just announced the most comprehensive and aggressive data center accountability effort in the country. In parallel with the framework, I established a rapid response AI Task Force that will address the unprecedented risks of unrestricted AI development, while steering the new technology to work in service of Virginians: our workforce, our children, our families, and our communities. The well-being and security of Virginians must always come first, and the Task Force’s actions will be guided by that foundational principle. But decisive federal action is paramount to ensure a national AI framework is accountable to — and for — the American people.
The notion that the United States must choose between AI safety and AI leadership is a false dichotomy. America can do both, but we need federal-state collaboration to advance thoughtful AI regulations that safeguard the public while supporting technological progress. Our country cannot afford for the federal government to abdicate its oversight responsibility. Congress must immediately and seriously consider how to best grapple with how AI’s emergence creates opportunities and challenges for our safety, well-being, and collective future.
The time for action — both for Virginians and Americans as a whole — is now.
Sincerely,
Abigail D. Spanberger
Governor
